Executive Summary

Prof. Su Shiung Lam is a Full Professor (VK7) at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), currently the Deputy Director of International Centre under the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor, and a Core Member of Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), accredited as the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE) for Future Food: Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture by Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

His academic background cover mainly on Chemical & Environmental Engineering, focusing on Waste and Biomass Utilization, Waste and Wastewater Treatment, and Green Technology. He is promoted to Professor within 8 years after his PhD, and has professional qualification as Certified Environmental Professional for Hazardous Waste Management in Malaysia, and Professional Technologist (Ts./P.Tech) for Green Technology by the Malaysia Board of Technologists.

He leads a ‘Pyrolysis Technology Research Group’, and he has published over 200 papers, some of which are published in journals such as one published in Lancet (Impact Factor: 60.4), one published in Nature (Impact Factor: 42.8), 4 published in Science (Impact Factor: 41.8), one published in Progress in Energy and Combustion Science (Impact Factor: 28.9), 7 published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Impact Factor: 12.1), 8 currently ranked as Web of Science ESI “Highly Cited Papers” (Top 1%) and 1 as ESI Hot paper (Top 0.1%), receiving a H-index of 40 and >4000 citations in Google Scholar (Scopus H-index of 35 and 3362 citations).

He is at the forefront in development and application of microwave pyrolysis technology,  ranking among the top in ‘pyrolysis’ in the number of SCI-indexed publication, currently ranked No. 4 in the world in ‘microwave pyrolysis’, No. 1 in Malaysia in ‘pyrolysis’, and No. 2 in Malaysia in ‘microwave’. Lam has secured 29 research grants, both international and in Malaysia, worth nearly RM 3.3 million. These projects have also received partnerships and investments from 5 companies from the industry [e.g. Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Pollution Engineering Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB)].

Lam also contributes his service as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Sustainability Science and Management (Scopus-indexed), Associate Editor for Environmental Advances (Elsevier), Environmental Geochemistry and Health (Springer, IF: 3.5, Q1), Frontiers in Energy Research (Frontiers, IF: 2.7, Q3) and Energy & Environment (SAGE, IF: 1.8, Q3), Editorial Board Member for Bioresource Technology (Elsevier, IF: 7.5, Q1, JCR-indexed Top 10%), Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition (Elsevier), and Materials Science for Energy Technologies (Elsevier), and as Guest Editor of special issues of internationally renowned Q1 journals, e.g. Journal of Hazardous Materials (Elsevier, IF: 9.0, Q1), Bioresource Technology (Elsevier, IF: 7.5, Q1), Environmental Pollution (Elsevier, IF: 6.8, Q1), Environmental Research (Elsevier, IF: 5.7, Q1), Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (Elsevier, IF: 3.9, Q1). He is recognized as a Publons 2019 Top Reviewers for Engineering and Cross-Field, currently have 530 verified reviews for 74 SCI-indexed journals by Publons.

Internationally, Lam is appointed as Chair Professor of Henan Province (China), Distinguished Professor of Nanjing Forestry University (China), Visiting Professor of Henan Agricultural University (China), Associate Fellow of UK Higher Education Academy, Visiting Research Fellow of  Education University of Hong Kong, and his affiliation as Central Council/Core Member of International Bioprocessing Association. He is Grant Panel of Poland’s National Science Centre, Kazakhstan Ministry of Education & Science, and Hungary’s National Research, Development & Innovation Office. Lam serves as executive chairman for 1 international conference and organizing/steering/scientific committee for 13 international conferences (e.g. BEEM 2020). He has been invited as Plenary, Keynote or Invited Speaker for 11 international conferences.

In Malaysia, he is currently an Auditor for Malaysia Research Assessment (MYRA) and Evaluation Committee Member of National Research Grant (FRGS, MRUN) appointed by Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. He also contributes as exco member of Malaysia Carbon Management Society (MyCarbon Society), acting as Deputy Director of Institution Linkage. He is also exco member of Inter-University Industry Network Malaysia Biomass to Fuel & Biomaterial (IUINMB2FM). He is selected as 2020 Top Research Scientists Malaysia and Member of Young Scientists Network by Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

Lam maintains good network with active researchers and academic community in 17 countries, particularly countries in regions of South East Asia (e.g. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc), plus China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Europe (Germany, Denmark), UK, US, Australia, India, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He works closely with the Lancet Countdown on climate change and food security, and has active collaboration with scientists in institutions such as Aarhus University, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton, University Wuppertal, Monash University, University of Newcastle Australia, University of Tehran, Education University of Hong Kong, Duy Tan University, Henan Agricultural University, Nanjing Forestry University, Beijing Forestry University, University of Seoul, Sejong University, National Cheng Kung University, etc.

Lam has received international and Malaysia awards and honours in academia, research and innovation. His research team has won 1 Grand Prize (SIIF in Korea), 3 Special Awards, 21 Gold Awards, 11 Silver Awards, and 6 Bronze Awards in innovation conferences and research exhibitions (e.g. Pecipta, ITEX, NRIC). The most prestigious awards comprise  Special Award in Pecipta (International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning) – Malaysia’s most recognized and prestigious research exhibition, and the Grand Prize in Korea SIIF (Korea Seoul International Invention Fair) – a globally recognized research exhibition. He has received honours such as Best Oral Presenter, Einstein Young Scholar, AT Kearney Outstanding Young Academic, and Malaysia Young Scientist by ASM to attend Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting.

Academically, Lam was awarded First Class Honours for his Bachelor in Environmental Technology followed by a MSc in Environmental Engineering. He was the recipient of some prestigious awards in Malaysia such as Royal Education Award and Tunku Abdul Rahman Medal. He was then awarded King Scholarship (Biasiswa Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the most prestigious scholarship in Malaysia) that sponsored for his PhD in Chemical Engineering in Cambridge University. He graduated in 2012 with particular distinction where his PhD thesis was approved without correction after viva, and his PhD examiners formally reported that the research work is of the highest academic standard.

Lam is active in research on waste recycling and biomass utilization, particularly the application of pyrolysis and microwave heating in transforming waste into energy, green chemicals, valued-added products applicable to industry and environmental protection. His work involves:

• Development & application of different types of pyrolysis techniques (microwave pyrolysis, co-pyrolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, vacuum pyrolysis, etc).

• Design & development of different types of microwave heating application (microwave torrefaction, microwave steam activation, one step microwave activation, microwave carbonization, etc).

• Development & application of green technology: phytoremediation, heavy metal immobilization, enzymatic hydrolysis, biorefinery, photocatalysis, green aquaculture system, aquaponics, catalysis, CO2 conversion, delignification, fractionation, extraction, anaerobic fermentation, etc.

• Production and application of value-added products, e.g. biofuels, biochar, activated carbon, bio-composite, catalyst, bio-fertilizer, etc.

• Environmental studies: pesticides, deforestation, mercury exposure, lead, glyphosate

His research team has filed patent (PI201701015) for a platform technology (Microwave Pyrolyzer) to scale up and commercialize the invention. This technology is licensed to NV Western PLT, and 2 companies (Edusar Resources SdnBhd, NanoMalaysia Berhad) and Henan Agricultural University have purchased 4 prototypes, making RM 80,700 as revenue from commercialization. These prototypes are currently used and tested by waste operators for energy conversion and waste to wealth applications. His research group provides consultation on hazardous waste management, pyrolysis application, and biomass and waste utilization to university such as Nottingham University and companies such as Sime Darby Berhad and hospitals of KPJ Healthcare Berhad.

Lam has had years of practical experience with the industry & research institutions. He was a Research Associate with the Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology of Cambridge University between 2012-2018. He also completed two industrial attachments to companies between 2015-2018 under the appointment as CEO Faculty Fellow 2.0 by the Ministry of Education Malaysia and Visiting Scientist. The industrial attachments involved direct attachment to the CEO and Managing Director of the companies. Some key outputs included development & patent filing of a prototype with Pollution Engineering Sdn Bhd to convert hazardous waste & biomass into useful chemicals, co-leading projects on new product development for Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad, and winning of the PNB Group Innovation Challenge 2017 (RM 12,000 prize money), and obtaining a RM 100,000 industrial grant to develop an innovative polymer product that is environmental friendly and cleaner for glove industry.

 Summary of Key Output

• 2020 Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM)

• Member of Young Scientists Network, Academy of Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM)

• Research Grant: 29 (~RM 3 million)

• Journal paper: 188 [1 recently published in Lancet (IF: 60.4), 1 published in Nature (IF: 42.8), 4 published in Science (IF: 41.8)]

• Book Chapter: 5

• Number of citations: 3362 (Scopus), 2724 (WoS), 4082 (Google Scholar)

• H-index: 35 (Scopus), 32 (WoS), 39 (Google Scholar)

• ESI Hot papers in field (Top 0.1%) by Web of Science: 1

• ESI Highly cited paper (Top 1%) by Web of Science: 8

• Patent filed: 1, Trademark: 1

• Revenue from Commercialization: RM 80,700 (1 Licensing, Selling of 4 prototypes)

• Appointment of 3 Professorships in China, 1 Research Fellowship in Hong Kong

• Central council member of IBA-IFIBiop (International Association of Bioprocessing)

• Exco member (Deputy Director of Institution Linkage), Malaysia Carbon Management Society (MyCarbon Society),

• Exco member of Inter-University Industry Network Malaysia Biomass to Fuel & Biomaterial (IUINMB2FM)

• Deputy Editor-in-Chief for 1 Scopus-indexed journal

• Associate Editor for 3 JCR-indexed journals

• Guest Editor for 5 Q1 JCR-indexed journals

• Editorial Board Member for 1 JCR-indexed journal (Top 10%)

• Human Capital Development in postgraduate supervision

  • • Completed: Main supervisor (3 PhD, 6 MSc), Co-supervisor (1 PhD, 3 MSc)

    • Ongoing: Main supervisor (2 PhD, 6 MSc)

•  Community Engagement

  • • Lead community and consultancy project on waste treatment, e.g. hospital plastic waste for KPJ Healthcare Berhad, oil palm waste for Sime Darby Berhad.

    • Conduct Research Workshop in secondary school (Chung Ling High School)

    • Forensic Investigation on the impact of floods to the affected areas in Kelantan

    • Organize CSR programme and activities for CCM: Program Rakan Saintis Sungai CCM, Loji Lembaga Air Perak Kampung Senin, Perak